Three-dimensional game apparatus

ABSTRACT

A three-dimensional game apparatus including a game board and player tokens adapted for selective association with each other and the game board so that they may be aligned in horizontal, diagonal or vertical patterns in three planes. The object of play is to effect player token occupancy of three playing positions in a planar or an interplanar line. The game apparatus also includes magnetic player tokens whose like-poles repel each other to provide for three-dimensional alignment of player tokens in different planes.

United States Patent 273/130(B) 273/l 30(B) 46/236X 5911 Cary Ave,Cincinnati, Ohio 45224 m mu e T H m on DCS mo r A a 945 456 H 999 HHH m04 o w w 3006 414 l. U 567 am 871 m0 4AN7.-.HH 223 PA S U T A R A P D. AE M A G & h NF W m MD m4 .5 mm Rh HC T7 M b.

ABSTRACT: A three-dimensional game apparatus including a game board andplayer tokens adapted for selective association with each other and thegame board so that they may be aligned in horizontal, diagonal orvertical patterns in three planes. The object of play is to effectplayer token occupancy of three playing positions in a planar or aninterplanar line. The game apparatus also includes magnetic playertokens whose like-poles repel each other to provide forthree-dimensional alignment of player tokens in different planes.

A63f3/00 273/130A,

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13OAB, B. 131A, 134A. 135A. 136A 136B. 1M, (lnquired); 273/130 [5 6]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 200,109 2/1964 273/130(B)PATENTED JAN '1 9 l97| 3, 556, 526

INVENTOR.

& Mall/11,112 w m/afw THREE-DIMENSIONAL GAME APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION layout, forming lines of three player positions in rectangularand diagonal relation like the two-dimensional game. The planes arestacked such that interplanar lines pass through correspondingtokenpositions in'each of the three planes. Such mentioned devices areshown. for example, in US. Pats. No. 2,3l3,473 and 2,801,107. Scoringusually takes place in these games by aligning three player tokens inone planar or interplanar line.

The remaining types of similar three-dimensional games which haveheretofore been suggested can be collectively grouped as'devices whichprovide four or more difierent planes for positioning player pieces.Usually these types of games provide for '64 or more playing positions.Play with these devices can become complex and players tend to loseinterest. The players also have difficulty even visually following theconduct of play and keeping score. In short, these latter mentioneddevices are more confusing than entertaining.-

Accordingly, three-dimensional game devices patterned after the familiartwo-dimensional tic-tac-toe" have mentioned their popularity, primarilybecause of their simplicity.

However, there is one common major disadvantage associated with thesetic-tac-toe" devices. After a few games are played, the players realizethat there is one position out of 27 possible positions which is unique.It is located at the point of symmetry, that is, the central position inthe plane intermediate the two other planes of the supporting structure.That unique position affords a much greater number of possibilities toscore when compared with any'other playing position in thethree-dimensional apparatus. Consequently, the player who occupies thatposition has a decided or valuable advantage over his opponent.Moreover, the player who occupies that position is predetermined bywhich player proceeds first. Such predetermination of a decidedadvantage tends to diminish the appeal for the three-dimensionaltic-tac-toe" games.

'An additional disadvantage of most three-dimensional games of all typesdiscussed above has been the necessity for the player tokens used in theconduct ofplay to be attached to the game board structure or to eachother in order to suspend them vertically in predetermined positionstoprovide for a three-dimensional array. Such attachment and detachmentof player tokens slows down play and is exhausting. Also. other deviceswhich heretofore have been proposed usually require complicatedsuperstructures for supporting player tokens. These superstructuresusually introduce confusion into game play. it is hard to distinguishavailable player positions from unavailable positions, as well asscoring alignment of tokens from other chafi" in the three-dimensionalarray.

SUMMARY OF THE INYENTION This invention is directed to a new concept inthree-dimensional game devices. This invention provides for athreedimensional game apparatus whichretains certain desirable featuresof the familiar tic-tac-toe" two-dimensional game, but without thedecided disadvantage of the heretofore proposed three-dimensionaldevices mentioned above. Particularly, this invention provides for a newgame board structure having a symmetrical pattern of player positions inwhich no one position is unique. Thus, no' one player has a decidedadvantage over his opponent which is predetermined by who proceedsfirst.

in one of its aspects, this invention provides for a threedimensionalgame apparatus having three different planes. Each plane has a coplanarpattern of playing positions corresponding to the other planes such thatinterplanar parallel lines intersect such corresponding playingpositions. The object of the game is for a playerto effect tokenoccupancy of three playing positions in a planar or' an interplanar lineto score. The game apparatus includes a game board having a supportingsurface defining one plane and the coplanar pattern of playingpositions. Since each coplanar pattern of playing positions correspondsto the other planes, the supporting surface defines a pattern whichcorresponds to the remaining twoplanes. The pattern of playing positionson the game board is defined by the intersections of a plurality ofcoplanar lines with each coplanar line having only three playingpositions. The total number and locations of the playing positions inthe pattern are such that there is no single position which. by reasonof its coincidence with the point of symmetry of the interplanarpattern, is unique as compared with the otherplay ing positions.

More specifically, one form of the game board according to thisinvention includes a flat playing surface having illustrated thereoneight playing positions arranged in three parallel rows containingthree. two and three playing positions, respectively. Six coplanar rowsare thus provided each having .three playing positions in a row. Suchpattern can be defined by the intersections of six lines formed by thediagonal coplanar'superimposition-of a first parallelogram on a secondparallelogram. This is done in such a manner that each side of a pair ofopposite sides of the first parallelogram is aligned and connected'witha side of the second parallelogram to form one of the parallel coplanarlines. The remaining opposite sides of each parallelogram form fourcoplanar lines. Accordingly. in total, the intersections of the sixlines formed by the superimposition of the parallelograms define eightplaying positions.

Theplaying board having the eight playing positions just mentioned canbe used with a number of playing tokens. for

example 24, adapted for selective association with the patternillustrated on the game board surface. Round discs or rings playingpositions in the pattern are such that there is no single positionwhich; by reason of its coincidence with the point of symmetry of thepattern, is unique as compared with the other playing positions.Accordingly, unlike conventional threedimensional "tic-tac-toe devices,this game board apparatus eliminates the decided disadvantages 'whichare associated with such a unique position which has tended to diminishthe appeal of three-dimensional "tic-tac-toe games.

In another of its significant features, the three-dimensional apparatusof thisinvention eliminates completely the disadvantages associated withthe attachment of player pieces either to each other or to the gameboard during the conduct of play as mentioned in the prior art devicesabove. This particular advantage is achieved among a number of otheradvantages according to this invention by employing magnetic game pieceswhich by reason of their repelling polarities cooperate with one anotherto suspend them spatially without physically attachment with each other.

The unique attributes of the magnetic player piece version of thisinvention can be best understood by reference to one of its morepreferred embodiments. A three-dimensional supporting structure isprovided, having a base board and eight pins extending vertically fromthe base in a symmetrical pattern referred to above. The base and theeight pins are made of wood with the pins physically secured to the baseboard. Magnetic player pieces in the form of rings or washers. that is.circular discs having hollowed out portions for removable slidingengagement of the pins therewith are provided. This permits the magneticplaying pieces to be positioned on said pins with, the like-poles ofsaid pieces adjacent or facing each ot'hf Under these conditions themagnets will repel one 'n space on the pin. Accordingly, occupancy oftheces in each of the uppermost planes in this instance depends upon theirmagnetic repulsion capability.

This magnetic version of the game apparatus of this invention affords anumber of advantages. It adds a new dimension of i'ritei'est tothreedimensional devices. It also permits the visiijal o bsrvat'ion ofthe conduct of the game without confu- -sionwhich is usually encounteredin the'superstructures of 'other three-dimensional devices. Moreover,the removal and placement of magnetic pieces is afforded in such an easymanner that no delay is caused in the conduct of play.

.-The other advantages and significant features of a threedimensionalgame apparatus embodying the principles of this invention are furtherunderstood with reference to the drawingin which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the three-dimensionalgame device of this invention with assional device in accordance withthis invention and illustrates another embodiment of the invention.

4 is" an alternative embodiment of this invention showingbth'rlvert'ical support means for a column of magnetic player'pieces'.

- wirrrr'efe'rerrcetcthe drawing, one specific form of the thre'edimens'i'onal game apparatus of this invention is shown in'FIG. lTThegame apparatus includes a game board 1 1 havi'n g 'a suppo'rti'ngsurface 12 defining one plane and a coplanar pattern of playing positionareas (diagrammatically best illu'strated inf FlG. 3). The game boardhas vertical supportme'ans includingpegs or pins 13 fixed thereto. Pins13 are arranged in three' parallel rows containing three, two and threepins, respectively, to provide for six coplanar rows each having threepins inar'ow. This symmetrical pattern of eight pins 13 in which no pinis 'uniquely positioned is also diagrammatically shown in'FIGE 3.

"The player'tokens I5 compriserings of magnetic material whose innerholl ows are adapted for removable sliding-engag'einent of said pinstherewith to position the player'to'kens nd cause the uppermostmagnetson the pins to be tokens 15 in a row either diagon' Each of thesealignments countson ll 5'onpins"l3 with the like-poles of magnetictokens ls'facing each other (as shown in FIG. 2, extreme left pin 13).The magplayer tokens are shown having different colors or features whichdistinguish a set of player pieces of one player from the set of playerpieces of another player. The polarities of magnetic player tokens aremarked or designated as at 16 (not all markings shown) so that a playercan readily detect their like-poles which will repel one another tosuspend one player piece above another on pins 13 to provide athreedi'niensional, interspatial array of player tokens relative to oneanother.

fT he magnetic player tokens 15 or rings can be made of suitablepermanent magnetic materials. Such materials can be painted or otherwisecolored to permit them to be distin- 'giiish ed from each other. Byreversing their common magnetic fields, the magnets repel each othercausing the upper tokens 1 5 to' suspend themselves in space on the pin13. A simple way to keep the token magnetic fields in opposition to oneanother is to play the marked tokens facedown in the top and bottomplanes (first and third planes) while playing the center token with itsmarked face up as illustrated at 16 on pin 13.

With reference to the drawing, the game according to this invention isplayed by first providing each player with 12 tokens. After determiningwhich player will proceed first, the

opponent from achievingthrep -j reference 'to FIG. 2...in whichthrefirst player places one token IS on any pin I3 of his choosing. Eachplayer then 'alternatestrirris inirfasliion similarto "tictac-toe. Theobject of play is for each player to effect token occupancy of threeplaying positions in a planar line or an interplanar line. In doing so,a plbyer 'ivill also t'ry'tdprevent his FIG, I illustratesplayermust'get three ofhis horizontally or vertically; 0 The method .ofscoring can ,besf .be understood with layer tokens 15 are suspendedvertically in a row along broken-line A. Alternasuch play in progresslTo scor tively, the three player tokens 15 extending horizontally alongbroken-line B counts one point. The remaining way .to score is alongbroken-line C which illustratesthree player tokens 15 in a diagonalline. A token may be a part of more than ,one row, for example, withreference to FIG. 2, the .top playemoken on the farthest left pin 13 isintwo lines, the vertical line A and the diagonal line C. Inthis event;a player can countthis token in forming three-in-a-row vertically aswell as three-in-a-row diagonally. There are 38 potential ways toscorelin the apparatus'of FIG. 1, but a close game will generally runsix to five. i f

It is to be appreciated; in the specific" embodiment-just described.there is no unique playingfpos'ition. Each of the three planes ofplaying positions has the coplanar playing position pattern shown inFIG. 2. The game board surface 12 defines one plane and supports thetokens l5 'in thatplanc. Board surface 12 also defines the coplanarpatter f laying positions (FIG. 3) on the surface 12 at the base'sp Ipins The playing positions in the two remaining planes cofirespond tothe plane defined by board surface 12 such thatinterplanar parallellines along vertically extending pins 13 intersect such correspondingplaying positions.

With particular reference to. FIG. 3, the playing positions 20 in eachplane can be defined by the intersections 21 of a plurality of coplanarlines 22. Each coplanar line 22 has only three playing positionsthereon. The number (eight) and locations of the playing positions 20 inthe pattern of FIG. 3 are such that there is no single position 20coplanarly or interplanarly which, by reason of its coincidence with thepoint of symmetry of the pattern, is unique as compared with the otherpositions 20. Accordingly, there is no decided disadvantage in the gameof this invention as there is in tic-tac-toe" devices of the rectangularthree-in-a-row type discussed above. Moreover, this invention eliminatesthat aspect of predetermination of outcome which is also inherentlyinvolved in known three-dimensional devices.

The additional advantages of this invention are also illustrated in thedrawing. The arrangement of the of the magnetic player pieces suspendedspacially on the pins is unique. It employs the new concept in whichplayer position occupancy on a vertical axis depends upon magneticrepulsion. This permits the opposing players ton-easily observe thedifferentiating colors of each of its piecesand to keep score. Moreover,the magnetic suspension of tokens permits the ready positioning andremoval of the tokens on thepins without having to physically securethem to keep them in different planes. This game has also maintained thedesirable feature of simplicity of the traditional three-in-a-rowtic-tac-toe" game, but avoids the undesirable complicating features ofprior art devices employing four or more rows three-dimensionally.

It will be understood, of course, that a playing board in an alternativeform of the invention need not be provided with pins. Instead, plastictubes 23 can be effectively used to sup port the magnetic tokens topermit s uspension by reason of opposite polarities. (This is shownin..FlG, .4). Moreover, as discussed above, inone of its aspects thegame apparatus according to this invention provides anew ,concept in agame board playing position pattern for three-dimensional devices. Agame board surface 25 can simply be marked with the pattern of playingpositions 20 illustrated in FIG. 3 and tokens 24 can be merely placed onthe board surface to effect token occupancy of the board surfacepositions. Other tokens 24 can then merely be vertically stacked uponone another to effect token occupancy in each of the other planes andscoring takes place in the same manner with reference to broken lines A,B and C of FIG. 2 and the above description. Of course, when employingthis aspect of the invention, the tokens need not be magnetic andsupport means for vertical stacking need not necessarily be present. Forexample as shown in FIG. 3, the tokens 24 can be flat discs which can beeasily stacked or even the tokens shown in the drawing. Alternatively,it may be desirable to use vertical support means such as pins 13 toalign nonmagnetic ring tokens l5 vertically along interplanar lines.

It will thus become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the an in viewof the above description of this invention, its

preferred form and explanations of other forms that there are a otherforms which come within the true scope of this invention and areintended to be embodied herein.

1 claim:

1. In a three-dimensional game apparatus consisting of three differentplanes, each plane having a coplanar pattern of playing positionscorresponding to the other planes such that interplanar parallel linesintersect such corresponding playing positions, with the object of aplayer being to effect player token occupancy of three playing positionsin a planar or an interplanar line, the improvement which comprises agame board having a supporting surface defining one plane and thecoplanar pattern consisting of a symmetrical array of eight playingpositions, the playing positions defined by the intersections of sixlines formed by the diagonal coplanar superim' position of a firstparallelogram on a second parallelogram in a manner such that each sideof a pair of opposite sides of the first parallelogram is aligned andconnected with a side of the second parallelogram to form one of saidcoplanar lines and the remaining opposite sides of each parallelogramintersect the diagonally opposite corners of the other parallelogram toform four of said coplanar lines, wherein there is no single playingposition which, by reason of its coincidence with the point of symmetryof the interplanar pattern, is unique as compared with the otherpositions.

2. The three-dimensional game apparatus according to claim 1 wherein thefour playing positions defined by the corners of each parallelogramremaining unintersected by the other parallelogram form a substantiallysquare outline.

3. The three-dimensional game apparatus according to claim lwherein saideight playing positions are illustrated by markings on said game boardsurface and the apparatus further comprises player tokens adapted forselective placement on the surface markings to effect token occupancy ofsaid positions and for vertical stacking upon one another to effecttoken occupancy in each of said other planes.

4. The three-dimensional game apparatus according to claim 1 furthercomprising:

support means extending vertically along said interplanar parallel linesfrom said board surface in the areas of the eight coplanar playingpositions for supporting player tokens along said intetplanar lines; and

player tokens adapted for selective placement on said support means toeffect token occupancy of the playing positions.

5. The three-dimensional game apparatus according to claim 4 whereinsaid player tokens comprise magnetized player pieces for placement onsaid support means with the like-poles of said pieces facing each otherto effect occupancy of the playing positions.

6. The three-dimensional game according to claim 5 wherein said supportmeans comprise pins and said player tokens comprise magnetized playerpieces having hollowed out portions for removable sliding engagement ofsaid pins therewith to position said player pieces on said pins toeffect token occupancy of the playing positions with the like-poles ofsaid magnetized pieces facing each other.

7. [n a three-dimensional game apparatus having three dif ferent lanes.each plane having a symmetrical copilanar pat tern 0 playing positionscorresponding to the ot er planes such that interplanar parallel linesintersect such corresponding playing positions, with the object of aplayer being to effect player token occupancy of three playing positionsin a planar or an interplanar line, the improvement which comprises:

a game board having a supporting surface defining one plane and thecoplanar pattern consisting of eight playing positions defined by theintersections of six lines formed by the diagonal coplanarsuperimposition of a first parallelogram on a second parallelogram in amanner such that each side of a pair of opposite sides of the firstparallelogram is aligned and connected with a side of the secondparallelgram to form one of said coplanar lines and the remainingopposite sides of each parallelogram intersect the diagonally oppositecorners of the other parallelogram to form four of said coplanar lines.and wherein there is no single playing position which, by reason of itscoincidence with the point of symmetry of the interplanar pattern, isaniqtie as compared with the other positions.

support means comprising pins extending vertically along said interplartar parallel lines from said board surface in the areas of the eightcoplanar playing positions for supporting player tokens along saidinterplanar lines, and

player tokens comprising magnetized player pieces having hollowed outportions for removable sliding engagement of said pins therewith toposition said player pieces on said pins to effect token occupancy ofthe playing positions with the like-poles of said magnetized piecesfacing each other

1. In a three-dimensional game apparatus consisting of three differentplanes, each plane having a coplanar pattern of playing positionscorresponding to the other planes such that interplanar parallel linesintersect such corresponding playing positions, with the object of aplayer being to effect player token occupancy of three playing positionsin a planar or an interplanar line, the improvement which comprises agame board having a supporting surface defining one plane and thecoplanar pattern consisting of a symmetrical array of eight playingpositions, the playing positions defined by the intersections of sixlines formed by the diagonal coplanar superimposition of a firstparallelogram on a second parallelogram in a manner such that each sideof a pair of opposite sides of the first parallelogram is aligned andconnected with a side of the sEcond parallelogram to form one of saidcoplanar lines and the remaining opposite sides of each parallelogramintersect the diagonally opposite corners of the other parallelogram toform four of said coplanar lines, wherein there is no single playingposition which, by reason of its coincidence with the point of symmetryof the interplanar pattern, is unique as compared with the otherpositions.
 2. The three-dimensional game apparatus according to claim 1wherein the four playing positions defined by the corners of eachparallelogram remaining unintersected by the other parallelogram form asubstantially square outline.
 3. The three-dimensional game apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein said eight playing positions areillustrated by markings on said game board surface and the apparatusfurther comprises player tokens adapted for selective placement on thesurface markings to effect token occupancy of said positions and forvertical stacking upon one another to effect token occupancy in each ofsaid other planes.
 4. The three-dimensional game apparatus according toclaim 1 further comprising: support means extending vertically alongsaid interplanar parallel lines from said board surface in the areas ofthe eight coplanar playing positions for supporting player tokens alongsaid interplanar lines; and player tokens adapted for selectiveplacement on said support means to effect token occupancy of the playingpositions.
 5. The three-dimensional game apparatus according to claim 4wherein said player tokens comprise magnetized player pieces forplacement on said support means with the like-poles of said piecesfacing each other to effect occupancy of the playing positions.
 6. Thethree-dimensional game according to claim 5 wherein said support meanscomprise pins and said player tokens comprise magnetized player pieceshaving hollowed out portions for removable sliding engagement of saidpins therewith to position said player pieces on said pins to effecttoken occupancy of the playing positions with the like-poles of saidmagnetized pieces facing each other.
 7. In a three-dimensional gameapparatus having three different planes, each plane having a symmetricalcoplanar pattern of playing positions corresponding to the other planessuch that interplanar parallel lines intersect such correspondingplaying positions, with the object of a player being to effect playertoken occupancy of three playing positions in a planar or an interplanarline, the improvement which comprises: a game board having a supportingsurface defining one plane and the coplanar pattern consisting of eightplaying positions defined by the intersections of six lines formed bythe diagonal coplanar superimposition of a first parallelogram on asecond parallelogram in a manner such that each side of a pair ofopposite sides of the first parallelogram is aligned and connected witha side of the second parallelgram to form one of said coplanar lines andthe remaining opposite sides of each parallelogram intersect thediagonally opposite corners of the other parallelogram to form four ofsaid coplanar lines, and wherein there is no single playing positionwhich, by reason of its coincidence with the point of symmetry of theinterplanar pattern, is unique as compared with the other positions,support means comprising pins extending vertically along saidinterplanar parallel lines from said board surface in the areas of theeight coplanar playing positions for supporting player tokens along saidinterplanar lines, and player tokens comprising magnetized player pieceshaving hollowed out portions for removable sliding engagement of saidpins therewith to position said player pieces on said pins to effecttoken occupancy of the playing positions with the like-poles of saidmagnetized pieces facing each other.